Bill > HB4077

This bill modifies the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code to explicitly define and regulate "spirit coolers," which are alcoholic beverages containing distilled spirits (like rum or gin) mixed with water or juices, with an alcohol content between 0.5% and 17% by volume. The bill allows holders of wine-only package store permits and wine and malt beverage retailer's permits to purchase, sell, and conduct product samplings of spirit coolers in areas where alcohol sales have been approved by local ballot. Specifically, these permit holders can now buy spirit coolers from wholesalers, sell them for off-premises consumption, and include them in product tastings, subject to the same hours and restrictions that currently apply to wine and malt beverages. The bill also updates legal definitions to explicitly include spirit coolers in categories of alcoholic beverages, essentially treating them similarly to wine and malt beverages under certain permit types. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and apply only to premises located in areas where alcohol sales have been legally approved through local voter initiatives.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4077